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Near the center of Pasadena, California, a team of scientists, engineers, and project specialists is busily planning and designing what eventually will become the most advanced and powerful optical telescope on Earth. When completed later this decade, the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) will enable astronomers to study objects in our own solar system and stars throughout our Milky Way and its neighboring galaxies, and forming galaxies at the very edge of the observable Universe, near the beginning of time.

A 30-meter telescope, operating in wavelengths ranging from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared, is an essential tool to address questions in astronomy ranging from understanding star and planet formation to unraveling the history of galaxies and the development of large-scale structure in the universe.

One Response

Useless questions with useless answers. Astronomers are incredible at making people believe they do something that benefits us. They first need to pave the road to the summit (with heating elements under the asphalt). They next need to come up with better community service instead of the ridiculous astro day where they give out toys made in China. Do something useful like donate telescopes to schools and teach the children about stargazing. Oh, wait, I forgot, astronomers don’t want us on the mountain with them. Teaching the children with real telescopes would encourage them to rush the mountain.